The Workers’ Educational Association

Inspiring Individuals, Communities & Society

Take a look at the role…

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the role of Interim Director of Scotland for the WEA.

As the UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult education, the WEA plays a unique role in the further education landscape by giving everyone the opportunity to engage in learning, whatever their stage or age.

Through our core curriculum themes of Employability, Health and Wellbeing, Community Engagement and Culture, the WEA changes lives through education. WEA Scotland is a key part the Association, providing over 112,000 hours of learning to students across the country. It is supported by a network of volunteers and members who co-design and co-produce learning programmes and has particular strengths in both workplace and community learning.

Like many providers of adult education, WEA Scotland is embarking on a comprehensive organisational review to secure its long term sustainability. We need an interim Director who will be able to lead the organisation through a significant period of change and deliver increased operational effectiveness while driving new income growth.

Working as part of the WEA’s national Senior Management Team, the interim Director will have the opportunity to help influence and shape adult education provision in Scotland. We need an effective communicator who is able to lead the organisation through change while building the organisation’s profile with partners, the Scottish government and other funders to bring help-education to communities that need it most.

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to become part of an educational movement that transforms lives across Scotland and England. With the support of the WEA’s UK infrastructure and network, you will be able to inspire a new thirst for learning across Scotland and help some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities.

I look forward to receiving your application.

welcome

Ruth Spellman
Chief Executive and General Secretary

Founded in 1903, the Workers Educational Association (WEA) is the UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult education. Focused on employability, health and wellbeing, community engagement and culture, the WEA delivers educational opportunities for adults across England and Scotland.

The WEA is a very special education provider. It is a charity with a strong sense of social purpose, dedicated to bringing great teaching into the heart of local communities, and all their educational provision is developed with this in mind. The high level of involvement of their members and volunteers gives WEA distinctive character and as does their commitment to developing educational opportunities for the most disadvantaged.

The WEAs vision is of a “better world – equal, democratic and just; through adult education the WEA challenges and inspires individuals, communities and society”.  The WEA’s mission is to:

  • Raise educational aspirations
  • Bring great teaching and learning to local communities
  • Ensure there is always an opportunity for adults to return to learning
  • Develop educational opportunities for the most disadvantaged
  • Involve students and supporters as members to build an educational movement for social purposes
  • Inspire students, teachers and members to become active citizens

The WEA takes education to where it is needed most – in local communities. WEA’s courses can be delivered in a variety of locations from clubs, community centres, village halls and schools to people’s place of work, often in partnership with local community groups, charities and other organisations. Our aim is to ensure that no matter what your background and experience, you are always welcome to the WEA.

WEA Scotland…

The WEA has always had a strong localist flavour and was originally built on semi-autonomous Districts across the UK. In 1991, the WEA developed ‘integrated’ constitutional arrangements, which saw the three WEA Districts in Scotland merged into a single Scottish Association within the WEA in England and Scotland.

With devolution in Scotland and the transfer of powers to the Scottish Parliament, the distinctive identity of WEA Scotland has been vital while enabling it to draw from the strength of the National Association’s governance arrangements. WEA Scotland also supports over 20 self-determining learning groups and associations. From Local Associations, to student groups and thematic networks, participants are empowered to co-design and co-produce learning programmes and courses most relevant to them.

WEA Scotland receives funding from the Scottish Government in the form of the Adult Learning and Empowering Communities (ALEC) fund. WEA Scotland is distinguished by its experience of accreditation and working with some 50 short timescale contracts across a range of different funding streams.

In 2014–2015 WEA Scotland provided 112,783 hours of learning to 7,129 student with 23% being workplace and 77% being community based and “open” learning programmes.

Download the WEA Scotland Annual Report 2014 – 2015

An innovative, solutions focused and visionary business leader, you will have a proven track record in leading and managing teams through periods of change and development, whilst also ensuring delivery against both operational and strategic goals.

With exceptional communication, negotiating and influencing skills, you will lead WEA Scotland through a period of significant organisational transformation, moving them away from over-reliance on statutory funding to a more balanced and sustainable income portfolio.

Download the position profile document for this role

Recruitment Timetable:

Closing date for applications: Sunday 22nd May
Shortlist meeting with WEA: Week commencing 13th June
Final Panel Interview: Week commencing 20th June

The recruitment process for these positions is being managed by advising consultants Livingston James